At the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, “The Walking Dead: Dead City” was chosen as the festival opener for its anniversary edition, with executive director Cécile Menoni saying the series was a natural fit because of its lasting impact on modern television culture. She described the franchise as more than a post-apocalyptic thriller, emphasizing its themes of human relationships, survival and resilience. The show premiered its first two episodes of Season 3 at the event, underscoring its continued momentum years after the original “The Walking Dead” first became a global hit.
Laurent Puons, the festival’s general manager, praised the series as one of the defining television shows of the 21st century, alongside “Game of Thrones,” and called it highly addictive. The festival drew major talent including showrunner Seth Hoffman, Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as well as honorees Kristin Scott Thomas and Kurt Russell, who received the Crystal Nymph Award for careers that have spanned generations and formats while remaining closely connected to audiences worldwide.
Menoni said the Rising Star Award is designed to identify performers at a key point in their careers, when they have already made an impression but are still at the beginning of a larger journey. This year, Ester Expósito and Matthew Broome were recognized for their work in “Élite” and “My Fault: London,” respectively. The festival also expanded into digital storytelling with a new Digital Competition, reflecting its effort to welcome emerging creators and new formats.
Puons said the festival wanted to be among the first to recognize digital content because of its growing fan engagement and future potential. He even predicted that a TikTok creator could one day receive the Rising Star Award, noting that social media personalities can be as influential as traditional stars. The event’s Business Forum has also grown in importance, bringing together creators, executives, producers, talent agents and digital innovators to discuss the direction of the industry and encourage practical, forward-looking dialogue.
Alongside prestige television and digital innovation, the festival continues to celebrate long-running fan favorites such as “The Bold and the Beautiful,” giving audiences the chance to meet beloved cast members. Puons said Monte-Carlo is the only festival that honors soap operas in this way, reflecting the enthusiasm such shows inspire. Menoni said television is built on both discovery and loyalty, and that the festival aims to honor everything from new productions to iconic series that continue to resonate with viewers. She added that the most powerful moments are when fans meet actors they have followed for years, showing how television creates lasting emotional connections and shared experiences.
